[Info-vax] [OT] Home media files and backup, was: Re: SBB's

[Simon Clubley]

On 2013-01-03, Phillip Helbig---undress to reply <helbig at astro.multiCLOTHESvax.de> wrote:
> In article <kc3vs2$vi2$1 at dont-email.me>, Simon Clubley
><clubley at remove_me.eisner.decus.org-Earth.UFP> writes: 
>> I actually buy CDs as well as I prefer having the physical media around.
>> It's just that the first (and only) thing I do with it is to rip it before
>> storing it away. The encoding bitrate I choose depends on what's on the CD.
>
> That's why I'm thinking of the JB7.  If it had a TB disk in it, I would 
> have already got one, since I could then put my CDs on it uncompressed.
> With 500 GB, I have to convert them to MP3s.  Probably I wouldn't hear a 
> difference, even on good equipment, at least at a high bit rate (the JB7 
> offers several), but I would want to try it out first.  I don't see why 
> it doesn't support lossless compression.  Apparently one can connect a 
> USB disk to it for backup, and even play stuff from such a disk, but it 
> is unclear to me if I could use this to get more capacity out of it with 
> all the features of the built-in disk.
>

I noticed the apparent lack of lossless compression as well when I had
a quick look at the specs; I didn't see anything like FLAC listed.

As for noticing a difference with compression, it depends on the
equipment and if you have a reference source to compare. I tend to
rip at 128Kbits/second for pop and speech and 192Kbits/s for orchestral
and soundtrack music (at least for the material I intend to listen to
with portable equipment). There are also some things I rip using FLAC
when I want the very best quality.

When I listen to the 128/192Kbits/s rips in isolation, they sound just
fine with no sign of distortion or artifacts, regardless of the quality
of the equipment I play them on.

However, with a generic but decent quality pair of over the ear headphones,
I can still tell the difference (just) between some 192Kbits/s orchestral
rips and the same piece ripped using FLAC; the MP3 version feels slightly
"suppressed" when I notice a difference.

Simon.

-- 
Simon Clubley, clubley at remove_me.eisner.decus.org-Earth.UFP
Microsoft: Bringing you 1980s technology to a 21st century world